Edmonton's Rust Magic mural festival winning recognition in world of street art

Edmonton's outdoor mural festival isfast gainingrecognition in the world of street art.

"Cities all around the world have been seeing the value of street art," said Trevor Peters,co-founder of Rust Magic International Street Mural Festival.

"The artists have a lot of followers on social [media] and the word is spreading like fire.There's a lot of people outside of Edmonton getting to know Rust Magic."

When Rust Magic launchedthree years ago, the festival wasnot an easy sell.

• Edmonton's 'Graffiti Granny' enlists students to paint baseball dugout mural
• Spanish duo turning heads with massive mural in downtown Edmonton

"It was a challenge to get walls when we first started, a lot of meetings and cold calls," said co-founderAnnaliza Toledo. "Now people are offering walls."

Almost 50 muralsscattered around Whyte Avenue, downtown and the 124 Street neighbourhood, have been completedsince2016.

About 20 morefrom local muralists as well as artists from Montreal, Toronto, Chicago, Barcelona, London andMelbourne will be painted this year between Aug. 1 and 10.

Edmonton muralist Jill Stantonsaid Rust Magic is putting Edmonton on the mural map.

• Graffiti festival turns bleak Edmonton walls into art

"It's such a great festival and the city is on fire right now. People are starting to wake up to Edmonton as far as our public art goes."

This year, Stanton's canvas will bethe emptywallof a liquor storein the 124th Streetneighbourhood.

Peters and Toledo started the festival in 2016 to pay homage to the graffiti culture of the 1990s with thefestival takingits name from the Rust Magic brand of spray paint that graffiti artists often use.

• Edmonton back alleys and parking lots become selfie destinations
• With cats, a dog and vivid, geometric shapes, Old Strathcona mural is making a big impact

Part of the philosophy of Rust Magic is toencourage young artists, Toledo said.

"Giving these artists the space to do their first mural, doing a mentorship and giving them confidence to know they can take this on as a profession has been really rewarding," she said.